Normandy Road Trip: Phenomenal 5 Day Itinerary

This Normandy road trip itinerary captures the rugged beauty of the Normandy coast in France. The sweeping coastline of white limestone cliffs extends for a length of 130 kilometres, overlooking the English Channel.

Of all our road trips so far, this trip to Normandy was particularly rich in history and beauty.

The Normandy coastline is interspersed with mostly inaccessible, pebbly beaches and breathtaking seascapes that have long inspired painters, composers and poets.

Normandy is also remembered for Omaha Beach and other important locations of the WWII D-Day Landings, the largest seaborne invasion in history. 

More Feathers in Normandy’s Cap

However, Normandy is much more than the D-Day Beaches. There are so many more feathers in Normandy’s hat.

The province also claims recognition for being at the heart of the Impressionistic movement. Famous artists and writers such as Claude Monet, Eugène Boudin, Georges Braque, Guy de Maupassant and Maurice Leblanc, have all called Normandy home.

Nature itself was the inspiration for many of these famous works and we understand why. This majestic Alabaster Coast of Normandy held us in awe because we were continuously rewarded with its sheer grandness, utter beauty and complete tranquillity.

Leaving Brittany in western France and continuing on our motorhome travels in France, we headed further north to begin our Normandy road trip.

And what better place to start than at the isle of Mont-Saint-Michel?

NORMANDY ROAD TRIP MAP

FIVE-DAY NORMANDY ROAD TRIP

NORMANDY ROAD TRIP DAY 1: LE MONT-SAINT-MICHEL

Le Mont-Saint-Michel, dominated by its imposing medieval monastery, has long been a place of pilgrimage.

With roots back to the 8th Century, Le Mont-Saint-Michel is most recognisable by its magnificent Benedictine abbey occupying the highest ground on this tiny island.

Other grand buildings surround the abbey, all vying for space on this tiny, tidal island.

Lying about one kilometre off the French mainland, at the mouth of the Couesnon River, access to the island is only at low tide via the surrounding mud flats. Luckily, a long bridge extends to the island which allows year-round access.

You also have the option to hire a travel guide for this walking tour of the mud flats to provide expert advice on avoiding stepping into the soft sand.

When the tide comes in, it does so quickly and can have a maximum tidal shift of up to fifteen metres.

Le Mont St Michel Video Snippets

You can get a better idea of this amazing place by taking a look at this short clip below.

The Mont-Saint-Michel website offers information on tides, walking tours and opening times.

Once you reach the island, the entrance is through the huge iron portico and is free.  However, you do need to pay an entrance fee if you want to enter the Benedictine Abbey.

You may just choose to spend the time wandering the boutiques, museums and medieval houses and gaze out to admire the grand views offered from the many different places around the island.

There is a paid carpark about 2.7 km away, with a dedicated bay for motorhomes and campers numbered P8 (24 hours maximum, parking but no overnight stays are allowed).

A free shuttle (le Passeur) to Mont-Saint Michel runs every 12 minutes.

NORMANDY ROAD TRIP DAY 2: SAINT-FRAIMBAULT

The floral village of Saint-Fraimbault consistently wins the award of ‘four flowers’ in the annual,  ‘Village Fleuri’ (‘Villages in Bloom’) in which towns throughout France are awarded from one to four flowers, with four being the highest accolade.

It was a worthwhile detour (before continuing our Normandy road trip north) to a village that is a consistent high achiever with the Villages in Bloom award since 1965.

We visited in Spring and were greeted with an abundance of daffodils and cherry blossoms. For more information on this pretty part of Normandy, have a look at the Normandy Tourist information site.

When you are all flowered out, you can enjoy the village’s 3-hectare lake which has leisure activities, such as paddle boats, fishing and picnic areas. 

Wherever you are on the walk, you can hear the sweet sounds of the cascading stream which eventually draws you to its cheery tunes.

NORMANDY ROAD TRIP DAY 3: CAP D’ANTIFER

Our first real taste of the beauty of a Normandy coastline was overnighting at Cap d’Antifer. With a lone lighthouse and stunning sheer, white limestone cliffs, Cap d’Antifer is nothing short of spectacular.

Grassy paths follow the clifftops and lead you past old war-time bunkers. Here, it is definitely an even mix of beauty and serenity.

Front-row seats at the cliff tops give you the perfect vantage point to watch the setting sun.

A distinctive landmark is the 38m high bright, white-coloured, octagonal-shaped Cap d’Antifer lighthouse. Originally built in 1894, it was bombed in 1944 and then rebuilt in 1949.

A free campsite is located right outside the gates of the lighthouse.

Close to sunset, the automated lighthouse starts its own light show, casting its light on the sea as it has done for so many years before. This is where you want to be at sunset, looking west to capture the fading rays.

NORMANDY ROAD TRIP DAY 4: ÉTRETAT

Famous for its limestone arches and the ‘Needle’, or Aiguille, this particular part of the Normandy coastline abounds with spectacular scenery.

If you look closely at the needle you may see what many claim to see – the head of an elephant dipping its trunk into the waves.

A great location to capture some photos of the needle are to the east of the town, near the Notre Dame de la Garde chapel. There’s plenty of parking here.

Below is a video showcasing the best of Éretat’s coastline – you can easily make out the ‘Needle’.

Close by the carpark is the ‘White Bird’ memorial, a tribute to two French aviators who disappeared in 1927 whilst attempting the first aerial crossing of the North Atlantic from Paris to New York.

You may like to read this interesting article on that last flight.

Overlooking the coastline and the famous Etretat cliffs are the Etretat Gardens, an open-air museum of contemporary art entwined in Les Jardins d’Etretat. You can access the gardens on foot or with the Little Train that leaves from Etretat Town Hall every 30 minutes.

Note: The garden is closed from 21 December to 10 February.

🪷 Reserve Etretat Gardens now and pay later (free cancellation) — Book your entrance ticket and guided plan here

NORMANDY ROAD TRIP DAY 5: SOTTEVILLE-SUR-MER

The white chalk cliffs continue along this poetic coastline but here, near the charming farming village of  Sotteville-sur-Mer, you can access the beach via a concrete stairway carved between the cliffs. 

231 steps lead you down to the small pebbly beach that is relentlessly pounded by the Atlantic Ocean.

The steps were once used to transport pebbles from the beach up to the Sotteville-sur-Mer so they could be crushed into emery powder.

The fishermen used the steps to access their huts along the beach which were carved out of the rock.

What a fitting way to end our Normandy road trip of this extraordinary coastline with this spectacular sky burst of reds and yellows.

Normandy’s farewell to us. 

OTHER PLACES TO VISIT ON YOUR NORMANDY ROAD TRIP

Obviously, there are hundreds of other villages and towns you could visit on your road trip through Normandy.

PARIS TO NORMANDY – TRAVEL OPTIONS

1. PARIS TO NORMANDY BY CAR

An approximate 2.5-hour drive from Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport or Orly airport will have you in Normandy. However, the distance and time depend on where you are headed in the Normandy region.

To begin your road trip at Mont-Saint-Michel the trip from Paris will take approx 4 hours. 

2.  PARIS TO NORMANDY BY TRAIN

The speedy TGV trains leave from Paris’ Gare Saint Lazare several times a day to many towns and cities in Normandy, (taking between 1-2 hours).

However, to get to many of the more rural towns it is best to have a car as bus connections are not as regular. 

You can book both train and bus tickets through SNCF (France’s National Rail network provider).

WHERE TO STAY ON YOUR NORMANDY ROAD TRIP

NORMANDY MOTORHOME/ CAMPER STOPS

• Motorhome Site near Mont-St-Michel: Ardevon, Normandy
• St. Fraimbault, Motorhome Park – No facilities but only €2 for parking
• Phare d’Antifer – Free, no facilities, parking Coordinates, N49.68303, E0.16476
• Sotteville-sur-Mer – Free, no facilities,  parking coordinates, N49.887409, E0.829871

NORMANDY ROAD TRIP ACCOMMODATION if TRAVELLING BY CAR

NORMANDY ROAD TRIP OPTIONS

MOTORHOME/CAMPERVAN RENTAL FOR ROAD-TRIPPING NORMANDY

We hired a campervan through Motorhome Republic who find the best deal for you in whatever country or region you need to hire a van and they have great customer service.

So if you are thinking of renting a motorhome, then it’s definitely worth the time to get an online quote here and it’s free.

💡TIP: Since Covid, there has been a worldwide shortage of campers and limited availability, so book early to ensure you can rent the vehicle that suits you best.

Here are a few comprehensive articles on motorhome tips for driving in Europe that will certainly help:

1. Campervanning in Europe
2. Tips for Motorhoming in Europe
3. Campervan Accessories

CAR RENTAL FOR YOUR NORMANDY ROAD TRIP

If you are planning on renting a car for your Normandy Trip then check out Discover Cars to find the best deal.

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NORMANDY ROAD TRIP … That’s a Wrap

This road trip in Normandy takes you to historical sites and coastal towns and gives you a taster of the region’s beauty and charm. From the spectacular Mont Saint Michel to the stunning cliffs of Étretat, there is no shortage of scenic views to discover.

Overall, a Normandy road trip is a great way to experience some of the best of France’s rural and coastal scenery.

What are your favourite places to visit in Normandy?

Which spots would you recommend to our readers? Drop us a line here.

READ MORE ON FRANCE:

• France Travel Guide
• Your Ultimate Guide to Motorhoming in France
• The Ultimate Road Trip Planning Guide
• Everything you need to Know About Motorhoming in Europe